He said that an ongoing RSS survey of existing conditions in this regard has thrown up some alarming results.

For instance, a detailed survey of 9,000 villages in Madhya Pradesh has shown that in 40 per cent of them , backward castes and Dalits face discrimination on temple entry, in 30 per cent villages they are not allowed access to water sources and in 35 per cent villages they are barred from using the crematorium.

“The Swayamsevaks are working on this. They have started helping our SC/ST brethren to claim the benefits guaranteed to them under the Constitution and ensure that the government and administration disburse the funds allocated for their welfare,” Bhagwat said in his annual Dussehra rally in Nagpur.

He assured that while the RSS workers would certainly strive to achieve social equality as per their strength, wisdom and capacity, he urged individuals and associations standing for social good to become more active in this regard.

“It will certainly be a shame on the 21st century India if one’s innocent kin have to bear insults and physical onslaughts because of one’s wrath over a trivial issue or one’s superiority complex. It also facilitates the divisive forces to tarnish the country’s image and slow down the momentum of good social welfare activities being carried out all over,” Bhagwat asserted.

The 90th RSS rally in Nagpur also saw its top leaders starting with Bhagwat, changing first time into dark brown full trousers, against the earlier khaki shorts which prevailed for nine decades since its founding in 1925 by the late Kesava Rao Baliram Hedgewar.

The decision to effect the most visible change in attire was taken in March this year at the RSS’s Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha (ABPS) held in March 2016 in Nagaur, Rajasthan, presided over by Bhagwat.